Transponder Monitor

A = Analog
D = Digital

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D The Thai channel BBTV Channel 7 has left 3765 MHz horizontal, SR 4700, FEC 3/4. The channel still broadcasts in clear PAL on 3750 MHz horizontal.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 904

D Television and radio from the Bashkir region of Russia in the Ural Mountains is now available on satellite for the first time. BSK TV can be found on 11106 MHz vertical, SR 3615, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. It is accompanied by two radio stations, Bashkir Kanal – A259 and Sputnik FM – A260.

56 degreesE:
Most 1

D The Russian TNT/NTV package on 12456 MHz LHCP, SR 20000, FEC 2/3 is broadcasting in the clear again. The line-up here is; TNT+2 (Moscow time +2 hours) – V512, A660; NTV+3 – V513, A661; NTV+4 – V514, A652 and TNT+4 – V515, A653. This package is in parallel with the bouquet on 12226 MHz LHCP. The Most 1 Ku-Band beam is centred on central Siberia at 50 dBW and stretches from Mongolia in the East to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the West.

50 degreesE:
Anatolia 1

Anatolia 1 has undergone a name change to PakSat 1. The satellite has now left this slot and is drifting slowly westwards.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1

D A Philippines-based package has launched on 12655 MHz vertical, SR 19996, FEC 3/4 via Europe*Star’s European beam. It contains TFC – V255, A256; ANC – V511, A512; PBC – V767, A768 and ABS1 – V1023, A1024. All of these are encoded in Nagravision except for ABS2 which is relaying The Filipino Channel. There are two radio stations here too, Radio Patrol – A1536 and WRR 101.9 FM – A1792. The two APTN feed streams out of Baghdad on 12678 MHz vertical and 12688 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 208, APIDs 256, IDs. ‘APTN BAGHDAD PATH 1’ and ‘APTN BAGHDAD PATH 2’ continue to be fairly active as the UN arms inspectors go about their business in the country. Most of the feed traffic here seems to be for the Japanese channels NHK Tokyo and TV Asahi.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D The Dream has left the GOD package at 12620 MHz vertical, SR 6160, FEC 3/4, APID 811. The W3N Network audio package on 12685 MHz vertical has changed parameters to SR 14997, FEC 7/8. This multiplex contains 23 encoded audio streams plus Nickelodeon, CNNI Europe, 3TV, Pro Sieben Schweiz and .5TV.

A The two Turkish radio stations, Yon FM and Karadeniz FM have left the 7.74 and 7.92 MHz audio sub-carriers on the back of Show TV at 11043 MHz vertical.

39 degreesE:
Hellas Sat 1

D Hellas Sat 2 is slated for a 21 February launch aboard an Atlas 5 rocket. The new craft will carry 34 Ku-Band transponders.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The Italian channels CFN/CNBC Italia have left 11057 MHz vertical for 11040 MHz vertical, SR 3410, FEC 2/3, VPID 940, APID 941 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. An encoded feed from a Dutch soccer match between Heerenveen SC and Feyenoord Rotterdam was fed over 12285 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 773, APID 783, ID. ‘MP/CH1’ on 7 December at 15:45.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird 1

D A TMF (The Music Factory) testcard has appeared on 11895 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2322, APID 2335, ID. ‘7009’ replacing the Paramount Comedy Channel. ATN has started on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2327, APID 2328 in clear MPEG-2. This is an Indian music, general entertainment and educational channel. Prior to the launch of ATN MTV India was being played out on the stream. The latest offering from Sky, Sky One Mix, has launched on 12226 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 via VPID 2308, APID 2309, Sky Ch.107 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2. After a fairly lengthy period in the clear ITV2 is encoded once again on 10906 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. At 11584 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 Red Hot UKTalent has changed PIDs to V2329, A2332. BBC Radio 7 has launched on 11798 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, APID 2348. This is the BBC’s new comedy radio stream. The soon-to-launch Classic FM TV has been added to the Sky EPG at Ch.464 and Galaxy FM has entered the Sky EPG at Ch.921. The North American Sports Network (NASN) has officially launched and appears at Ch.420 in the EPG. For the first few weeks of programming the channel will be free for Sky Basic Package subscribers before switching to a subscription service at the end of the year at a cost of GBP9.99 per month (as part of an annual subscription) or GBP12.99 on a month by month basis. Country music radio station Mean Country 1035 AM is to launch via satellite on 27 January, 2003. Erotic channels SCT and RCT have launched on 12525 MHz horizontal, SR 14650, FEC 2/3 via PIDs V4192/4250, A4193/4521.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1B,C & E-H, Astra 2C

D Following the Astra 1K disaster after launch on November 26 Alcatel Space and the French Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’…tudes Spatiales) were unable to place the satellite in geostationary orbit. On 10 December at 02:00 the craft was de-orbited, broke up and crashed safely into the Pacific Ocean near to New Zealand. Sky News has appeared via another outlet here, on 11597 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 305, APID 306 in free-to-air MPEG-2 within the Viacom package. Sky News is also available on 11097 MHz vertical and 12551 MHz vertical from this orbital slot. Otras Decadas has left the Spanish Canal Satelite line-up at 11508 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 163, APID 8191.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D The occasional feed traffic for the Polish channel TV Nova appear to have left 11098 MHz and 11110 MHz horizontal, SR 5925, FEC 3/4. TV Pireas has joined to other Greek channels on 11283 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V514, A670 in the OTE multiplex. On 8 December at 11:35 a live feed from Porto in Portugal on that city’s new transit system was fed over 12553 MHz Horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID.’ENEX5′ in clear MPEG-2 for SIC Portugal. At 14:00 on 15 December live coverage of the Italian Serie B soccer match between Ascoli and Napoli was fed over 11152 MHz, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID. ‘Tes18’ in clear MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/6

D Following quickly on the heels of the loss of Astra 1K the launch of Hotbird 7 from Kourou on 11 December turned into another disaster for the satellite industry when the Ariane 5 rocket failed at launch time and the satellite was destroyed on the launch pad at 22:21. The al-Majd Channel 2 broadcasts on 11746 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1009, APID 1209 have ceased as expected. The English language Islamic channel had been testing here (and via Nilesat and Arabsat) during the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is expected to return in early 2003. Tele 5 (Poland) has joined the Cyfra+ line-up at 10891 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs 163, A92. Tele 5 is currently in the clear but is likely to encode in Mediaguard/Cryptoworks soon. Four new streams have been activated in the multiplex on 12538 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They contain Nile TV International – V1181, A1182; Nile News – V1185, A1186 and two audio streams, which appear empty at present, on APIDs 1188 and 1190. There are also two new data streams here entitled 2XSKYGATE and NetStream. The Tamil language Deepam TV is encoded in Cryptoworks again after some time in the clear in the BT multiplex at 10722 MHz horizontal, SR 29900, FEC 3/4, VPID 1006, APID 1206. Two of the Mediaset channels, Italia 1 and Rete 4 Locale, have returned to 11387 MHz horizontal, SR 26177, FEC 1/2 after a short break. Both channels are free-to-air with programming in parallel with the Mediaset package on 11919 MHz vertical. However, this mini-package does not appear to be permanent and is prone to long periods of downtime. The Pakistani channel Prime TV is now encoded in Irdeto 2 24 hours a day on 12149 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 700, APID 701 within the Antenna Hungaria package. Arabic language radio station Sawt al-Islah (Voice of Reform) is now in the clear in the German Telekom INC multiplex at 11096 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via APID 74. This station is run by the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia and is broadcast from a secret location in Europe. It is also available on several shortwave frequencies. Two new channels have joined the Bloomberg bouquet at 11642 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Channel Eight – V1860, A1820 and Channel Nine – V1960, A1920. Both streams are displaying a testcard in clear MPEG-2. The Urdu language channel ARY Digital is encoded in Irdeto 2 again in the Belgacom package on 12476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. A new package from Olisat Hispana is soon to launch on 11199 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The bouquet will contain these Latin American channels; Canal Vitrina, Telemundo Internacional (Miami based Spanish language channel), Telefe Internacional (Argentina), Rio de la Plata Television (Argentina), TV Chile, Venevision Continental (Venezuela), Cubavision Internacional (Cuba), Seleccion Pramer (selection from El Gourmet TV, Tele Musica and Canal a). The package is expected to launch in early January, 2003 and will be encoded in Viaccess 2. The annual subscription cost will be $225 (US Dollars). Khalifa TV has now succeeded in obtaining a licence from the French authorities and has returned to the GlobeCast multiplex on 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 228, APID 248 in clear MPEG-2. Khalifa Radio has also made a comeback here via APID 258. The German radio station FAZ 93.6 FM has left 11054 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6. A new part time channel has joined the RAI line-up on 11766 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It is Senato Italiano, which airs from 09:00- 11:00 Monday-Friday and can be found on PIDs V163, A92 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Z-FM Bavaria and Power Network Bavaria have joined the AFRTS Network for US military personnel overseas on 10775 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 3/4 via APIDs 1430/1432. This package is in MPEG-2/PowerVu. The Italian channels Alice, Leonardo and Nuvolari have all left the Telespazio package at 12110 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. SexySat has launched on 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 138, APID 128 in clear MPEG-2.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D Pop TV has been replaced by Discovery Channel Mediterranean on 11019 MHz horizontal, SR 2170, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. Live coverage from the Skiing World Cup was fed over 11050 MHz horizontal, SR 13333, FEC 7/8, ID. ‘AKK TV-UE2’ in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 15 December at 14:30.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D Some of the channels in the Kingston/TLI multiplex at 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6 have been free-to-air of late. The erotic channels Amateur Babes and XXXTV have been in the clear for several nights. At other times TEAMtalk, CH3 and Alpha 1 were unencoded.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707

D On 12226 MHz vertical, SR 28000, FEC 7/8 Radio Nettverk 1 and Radio Nettverk 2 have been replaced by Riksyntt (left channel) and S.A.T.S. (right channel) via APID 648. More channels have joined the Telenor package at 11677 MHz horizontal, SR 26000, FEC 3/4. New ones are DR1 Syd – V512, A640; Zonavi 4 – A680; DR2 Syd – V514, A648; DR P1 Syd – A660; DR P2 Syd – A661; DR P3 Syd – A662 and DR P4 KBH Syd – A663. Horse racing coverage from a very snowy course in Finland was fed over 11527 MHz horizontal, SR 4203, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on 14 December at 12:10.

4 degreesW:
Amos 1

D Hir TV, an all news channel for Hungarian viewers, launched terrestrially on 2 December and will soon be available to a wider audience when it launches via Amos 1 in January. The Ukrainian channel Svit TV has new PIDs on 11385 MHz horizontal, SR 11567, FEC 3/4 in the Ukrainian package. They are V1883, A1884.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

D Several Italian soccer match feeds used Atlantic Bird 3 capacity during the early afternoon of 15 December. 11520 MHz vertical, SR 13020, FEC 3/4 carried two streams – ‘CLN ELPITEL’ on V3601, A3604 and ‘PGM ELPITEL’ via V33, A34. Up at 11604 MHz vertical, SR 13020, FEC 3/4 there were two feed streams identical to the traffic on 11520 MHz vertical. 11670 MHz vertical, SR 6510, FEC 3/4, VPID 3601, APID 3604 carried ‘PGM LECCE’. On 11503 MHz vertical, SR 13020, FEC 3/4 two more streams entitled ‘PGM FLY3’ – V3601, A3604 and ‘CLN FLY3’ – V33, A34. All of these were in MPEG-2 4.2.2.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D al-Majd Channel 2 has left 11746 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1009, APID 1209 and has been replaced by a promo (see also Hotbird at 13 degrees East). Arabic Classics 107.3 FM has been replaced by Holy Qur’an Radio from Kuwait on 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1120. The Voice of Palestine has returned to 11823 MHz vertical, APID 3094 and 12195 MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, APID 257 in clear MPEG-2. The Qanaty Kids Channel promo has vacated 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. NBA TV, which has been free-to-air in the ART package at 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, is now encoded in Irdeto 2 via PIDs V3084, A3085.

7.3 degreesW:
Thor 1

The Eutelsat promo channels on 11785 MHz, 11862 MHz, 11938 MHz, 12015 MHz and 12092 MHz RHCP have all been switched off. No further activity has been noted.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D Two wrestling feed streams were activated here from 23:00 on 15 December on 11014 MHz horizontal, SR 20145, FEC 3/4. One ID was ‘GlobeCast Ch1’ and the other ‘GlobeCast Ch2’.These were used to feed action from the WWE Armageddon event eastbound to Europe.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D The National Geographic Channel has launched on 12643 MHz horizontal, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 with three audio soundtrack streams carrying Polish (left channel) and Hungarian (right channel) plus English on APID 257. The ArabChoice package for the Americas has returned to 11799 MHz horizontal, SR 9400, FEC 3/4. It contains seven active streams; Antenna Satellite – V4130, A4131; Saudi Arabia TV Channel 1 US – V5154, A5155; Palestine Satellite Channel – V5410, A5411; Radio Maria Italia – A4097; al- Qur’an al-Kareem Radio/Main Arabic Program – A4100 and Ant1 97.2 FM – A4130, all in clear MPEG-2. This bouquet uses Telstar 12’s Americas Beam which delivers 48 dBW to all of South and Central America and the eastern half of the US and Canada.

21.5 degreesW:
NSS 7

D The Filipino Channel has left 11491 MHz horizontal, SR 13333, FEC 1/2 after about a week of test transmissions. Up at 11620 MHz horizontal, SR 3333, FEC 3/4 Orbit News has vacated the frequency.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C/D

D The Spanish network Via Digital has left 12149 MHz, 12226 MHz and 12303 MHz LHCP. The PPV channels Palco Cine 02, 04, 06, 08, 10, 12, 14 and 16:9, which had occupied 12149 MHz, have moved to 11811 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 and can be found on VPIDs 4864/4880/4896/4912/4928/4944/ 4960/4976, APIDs 4865/4881/4897/4913/4929/ 4945/4961/4977 respectively. All of these are encoded in Nagravision. Palco Cine 09, 11, 03, 13, 05, 15, 07 and 01 left 12226 MHz LHCP for 12303 MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The channels previously resident on 12303 MHz , Gran Via, Gran Via 2, Campero, Natura, Cocina and Gran Via C have moved to 12380 MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On 12 December at 18:45 a feed from the Canaries was carried on 12680 MHz horizontal, SR 4444, FEC 3/4, VPID 260, APID 112, In ‘La Palmas GCEM5’ in free-to-air MPEG-2. TV Canarias has been replaced by Locale TV America on 12052 MHz horizontal, SR 28126, FEC 5/6, VPID 2201, APID 2202 via the American Beam. BCP TV has officially launched on 11811 MHz horizontal via PIDs V5248, A5249 in clear MPEG-2.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11

D At 16:00 on 7 December the Viacom feed stream on 11542 MHz horizontal, SR 5998, FEC 3/4, VPID 167, APID 108 was relaying the US version of VH-1 in clear MPEG-2. The WorldFeed from the World Cup Golf tournament being held at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is being carried on 12695 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID. ‘KINGSTON INMEDIA’ in clear MPEG-2.

55.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 805

D Cadena Sonor and Radio Galaxia have returned to the Guatemalan package on 3450 MHz horizontal, SR 14250, FEC 2/3 via APIDs 113 and 123. Radio stations Tropicalida and Alfa on APIDs 133 and 143 are now encoded here.

58 degreesW:
PAS 9

D In the multiplex on 4000 MHz horizontal, SR 27690, FEC 7/8 the Portuguese radio channel RDP Internacional has been replaced by the domestic service, RDP Antena 1 via APID 1721.Thai TV Global Network has left the Chinese package at 3880 MHz horizontal, SR 27690, FEC 7/8. Occasional feed traffic by British Telecom can be found on 11477 MHz horizontal, SR 26465, FEC 3/4 where four feed streams are active.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.